Matthew Dowd is a despicable human being
In exploring the new, I do a lot of channel-switching and Internet exploring. I happened to be watching MSNBC’s Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace at the time Matthew Dowd was responding to the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. His comments were not merely tone deaf. They were disgusting beyond imagination. Dowd saw the shooting as a response to Kirk’s rhetoric.
Dowd opened his comments with a head-scratching absurdity. He said, “We don’t know any of the full details of this yet. We don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration or — so we have no idea about this.” (My highlight.)
Good journalists avoid excessive speculation, but Dowd’s theorizing a happy fan accidentally shooting Kirk is bat-guano crazy. Even in the early stages of the reporting that was not even within the realm of rational possibilities.
But that was not the worst of Dowd demented comments. He called Kirk “… one of the most divisive — especially divisive younger figures in this — who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups.” (A bit incoherent, but you get the point.)
Dowd was on a roll. And then there was his closer, “I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.”
And finally, “You can’t stop with these sorts of awful thoughts you have, and then saying these awful words, and not expect awful actions to take place. And that’s the unfortunate environment we’re in.”
In other words, as far as Dowd is concerned, Kirk deserved what he got. He caused it.
BUT (ß another big but) … the most despicable thing about Dowd’s comments is that he was lying – slandering, maligning a man who was just shot doing nothing but engaging in free speech dialogue. A man who would later be declared dead,
Charlie Kirk is not given to hate speech. Au contraire. He lives by his own ethical code of civil discourse. His hallmark was engaging with audiences – friendly or hostile – in a polite and calm manner. He set the example that we should all emulate. Kirk was not the man Dowd so viciously and heartlessly smeared.
It appeared to me that Dowd was cut off in mid-statement. I theorized that even the uber left-wing MSNBC could not condone Dowd’s comments. My impression was confirmed when MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler later issued a statement calling Dowd’s comments “inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable,” and confirmed that both the network and Dowd had apologized. (Although never heard Dowd, himself, apologize.)
Even the normally acerbic Trump/MAGA hater was a bit toned down. Although she did say Kirk was “an advocate of the most extreme policies”. Like what? Appearing on campuses, closing the border, supporting capitalism, locking up criminals, advocating for the Constitution, etc., etc., etc.
It did not take long for my personal shock and disgust to spread through the news outlets and social media. They mostly shared my belief that Dowd needed to be fired. And he was. That should not be the limit of accountability, however. Dowd should be exiled to the abyss of anonymity. No appearances on other news platforms. No down-the-road redemption. The decent world should be done with him. The only difference between his evil and the shooter’s is that Dowd did not take up a gun to express his hatred. He just lied and maligned.
If you think I have lost my free speech extremist credential in proposing that Dowd be shunned and shut down, please remember that the first Amendment does not protect slander, inciting riots or promoting violence.
It was not Kirk’s rhetoric that motivated the shooter, it was the vicious, hateful and mendacious rhetoric of folks like Dowd.
Memo to Dowd: Any apology you may have given – or will give — is not accepted.
So, there ‘tis.
Another bullshit piece from this author. Larry, the despicable people in this matter are those on the right (starting with the asshole in the WH) who jumped to conclusions and proclaimed that “radical leftists are to blame for this shooting” and then followed it up by pointing the finger at transgender people and antifa, based on what they surmised were inscriptions on the gun casings. Now it appears that the shooter (a follower of Nick Fuentes) did not agree with what Kirk said because it was too ‘centric’. Dowd said nothing in the interview that wasn’t true-Kirk was not an honorable person worthy of canonization. While I don’t agree with him being murdered, the comments he made regarding gun deaths (some are going to happen and are worth it to keep our 2nd amendment rights), gay and transgender people, and yes Jewish money going to the wrong causes were obviously divisive, and not indicative of values that we as human beings should bring to the table. The only despicable person here is you, and others like you, who peddle bullshit in the hopes of riling up people on the right-you are totally worthless individuals….
Mikef … You are an example of what is wrong in America these days — overwrought ignorance. Mindless hatred … nasty accusations … ad hominin attacks. But, I would never call you worthless since you can always served as a bad example. Instead of venting your spleen, next time try engaging your brain.
Larry, You have called Kirk an honorable American. He was not. He inflamed the nation repeatedly with his commentary (as does the idiot you voted for in the WH). He was not murdered due to ‘leftist’ rhetoric. You continue to display your ignorance with every word you write on these posts. You are what is wrong in the United States today by writing your divisive words for your dozens of followers…
Dowd was fired three days before rhis story posted.
“…please remember that the first Amendment does not protect slander, inciting riots or promoting violence.”
These are things Kirk actually said, pulled from recent media coverage:
“Happening all the time in urban America, prowling Blacks go around for fun to go target white people, that’s a fact. It’s happening more and more.” — The Charlie Kirk Show, May 19, 2023
The Irish Times
+1
“If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, boy, I hope he’s qualified.” — The Charlie Kirk Show, January 23, 2024
The Guardian
+1
“If I’m dealing with somebody in customer service who’s a moronic Black woman, I wonder is she there because of her excellence, or is she there because of affirmative action?” — The Charlie Kirk Show, January 3, 2024
The Irish Times
+1
“If we would have said that Joy Reid and Michelle Obama and Sheila Jackson Lee and Ketanji Brown Jackson were affirmative action picks, we would have been called racists. Now they’re coming out and they’re saying it for us … You do not have the brain processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously. You had to go steal a white person’s slot to go be taken somewhat seriously.” — The Charlie Kirk Show, July 13, 2023
The Irish Times
+1
And then there is his “hit list”:
There are documented reports that Kirk’s organization, TPUSA (Turning Point USA), operates a “Professor Watchlist” with real consequences for educators included on it:
The Professor Watchlist, started in 2016 by TPUSA, aims to identify professors they claim discriminate against conservative students, promote ideological bias, etc.
Wikipedia
+1
Professors like Stacey Patton have spoken out saying that after their inclusion on the Watchlist, they were subjected to harassment, abuse, threats, and fear — including “venomous” messages, threats of violence, job-targeting calls, etc.
PinkNews
One article describes the Watchlist as a tool that “listed academic staff, journalists, and activists … sparking controversies and reports of intimidation rather than just transparency.”
The Times of India
+1
Don’t get me wrong: he should absolutely not have been murdered for his rhetoric. But I’m dismayed at how some people are making Kirk into an angelic martyr. Have they normalized all his hate speech?
You scream at us, we scream at you, we all protect free speech by attacking those who do. You claim it’s all us, we claim it’s all you. Like monkeys in our cages, flinging words of pooh. Let’s try a little Republican memory lane:
“After a Latino gas station attendant in Gainesville, Florida, was suddenly punched in the head by a white man, the victim could be heard on surveillance camera recounting the attacker’s own words: He said, “This is for Trump.”
“When police questioned a Washington state man about his threats to kill a local Syrian-born man, the suspect told police he wanted the victim to “get out of my country,” adding, “That’s why I like Trump.””
“When three Kansas men were on trial for plotting to bomb a largely-Muslim apartment complex in Garden City, Kansas, one of their lawyers told the jury that the men “were concerned about what now-President Trump had to say about the concept of Islamic terrorism.””
About 15% of those convicted in the 1/6/2021 attack on the Capitol, blamed Trump on the court record, under threat of perjury. That’s over 200 convicts said Trump was the source. Trump did not deny any of them. Over 140 cops were injured that day and over 160 cop beaters were pardoned by Trump. Many have been arrested since on new charges. Go figure. Once a felon, always the felon.
Trump, Vance, Bondi, all blamed “the radical left” for Kirk’s murder before the killer was even known. As the killer is revealed to be a lone wolf, does not have a party, never voted, and was raised by two Republican parents in a gun loving family, Trump continued his hate-filled spew full of lies saying: “The radicals on the right oftentimes are radical because they don’t want to see crime,” the felon sex abusing friend of Epstein president said on “Fox & Friends.” “The radicals on the left are the problem, and they’re vicious and they’re horrible, and they’re politically savvy.” And now it appears that the guy’s roommate, and perhaps lover, is going trans and is pretty pissed off about what you have to say about that.
Free speech matters more in deeds than in words.
Dowd was fired before the author posted his story.
Trump continues to spew hateful rhetoric and continues in his job. You elected a convicted felon, so what should we expect? You elected a serial sexual abuser, of the digital rape variety, so what should we expect? This guy stole from his own university student, his own charity foundation, and the American taxpayer by cooking his books. Often. We don’t expect much at this point. Not from the likes of you.
The 1A comes before the 2A and the 2A is there to support the 1A. A-men to that.
Sorry, I would love to say: let’s all learn to get along. Kirk, who never really espoused getting along, is not the moment to do that, IMO. But every moment is a moment to do better. Make better choices. Bashing the entire left as “vermin” is no doing better. As I said: buckle up buttercup, gonna be a really hot summer and going to get hotter yet. As the economy sours, as his popularity continues to fall, now in the low 40’s; his cabinet each, in turn, offering him praise as the bestest ever, given him more golden trinkets, can only block the light of day, the truth, for so long.
Trump is still employed after saying he’s pursuing racketeering charges against George Soros saying: “We’re going to look into Soros because I think it’s a RICO case against him and other people because this is more than protests. This is real agitation; this is riots on the street — and we’re going to look into that.” Soros has retired from investing in 2011 and from his charity fund management since 2023. Like Trump, he is very old. Unlike Trump, Soros has stopped mouthing off years ago.
Apparently, Trump has a list but like the Epstein files, the public cannot see it through the transparency of this administration. The president said in the video that rhetoric from “the radical left” is “directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today. My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it.”
Dowd was fired before the author posted his story.
Trump was not fired for saying all these, and more, hateful lies targeting all Democrats but also a select list, some of which like Pelosi have already been attacked in suspected assassination attempts.
Remember all those fallen for support of free speech. Democrats, Republicans, and others. Some like Dowd, who misuse free speech, get fired. Others, like Trump, profit and prosper on the hate speak allowed in free speech. He profits by his lies. The lies are told right in front of your eyes. Open, look, see the hate for what it is, laugh, and despise. We could attempt to make laws to make this better. Instead, Trump will inflame by naming names and assigning blame. He will attempt to shame people in the press for the delight of his mob, and not much else. He’s not too good in court, you know.
Free the Epstein files. Two years.
Larry,
He doesn’t engage in hate speech?!? Either you need hearing-aids, glasses, or a brain transplant – or perhaps all three!
While violence cannot be condoned and an eye for an eye is OT, at the same time we cannot condone hate speech and vile rhetoric (you also practice this – if your post is representative of your normal mentality). Kirk was divisive, hateful, judgemental and just plain wrong!!
That is not to say, that he deserved death, or that he didn’t have good points that were exemplary (even a pig will find a pearl if it roots around long enough); but on balance his hatred, his racism, his misogyny, his homophobia, and his advocating violence against certain groups, defined him for most people: even for Christians, he was someone we do not wish to be associated with in name or practice! It’s time the Church got back to “love thy neighbour”!
All political violence should be condemned. There should be no party in this,
Not just the left, not just the right. You folks should give it a rest, see it the bright light of day, look to the mirror where you will see all of us at the heart of the crime. We are not innocent, but your side takes the cake. Some credit you with responsibility for over 80% of the political violence in recent years. Gotta admit, 1/6/2021 is a large hurdle to cross if party-blame-shame is the game you play. You have been inciting violence since 2015 by steadily increasing the rhetoric against the so-called vermin who you feel their extermination will somehow make your lives better. By the end of 2023, Trump said: “We pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists, and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country.” Vermin? That’s what Hitler said; the Jewish vermin. Gonna root it all out does not sound good to me. Obviously, I am not radical, not vermin, not Marxist, but does that mean he will skip me? Folks here have given me those labels, I must be on their list. Personally, I say we are a nation built on the rule of law, and last time I checked, the law does not pick our political parties as vermin.
I have long said this country cannot exist without you. Or without me. And our kind. Plus, the independents now constitute as large a party as Dems or Repubs. We need each other to succeed. Our diversity of ideas, partly coming from our diversity of heritage and experience, is one of our greatest competitive advantages in this world. Anyone who preaches anything, anywhere, against the concept of diversity advantage is putting America at a competitive disadvantage.
Go alone and go fast. Go together and go far. It’s a choice.
You violently shut down four state capitols in 2020 before the election. Getting ready for the US Capitol showdown, you used the famous lesson about how to get to Carnegie Hall: practice, practice, practice. You invaded our House speaker’s home, beat her spouse within an inch of his life and then made jokes about it, said it was a “gay thing,” accused him of trolling and grooming in gay bars. You shot our elected representatives at a shopping mall and later, verbally attacked the victim. You tried to kidnap one of our Governors who you still call all sorts of vile names. Another Democratic governor and his family are Jewish. You set his home on fire to murder him and his family. At Passover no less. You murdered our MN state representative and her husband, seriously wounding two others. You had a long list of Democratic names with you on that one. You stormed our country’s Capitol, shutting down our Congress, and injuring over 140 police officers. For that crime all 1,600 of you were convicted and then set free by your felon King. He pardoned all the cop beaters, every single one. You let cop beaters off the hook with full freedom for their cop beating reward. Many pardoned then committed further crimes.
You preach nonviolence but practice mayhem. You preach tolerance but disappear the undocumented to third-world, death-camp, gulags, many for a misdemeanor. And don’t get me started on what you want to do to the gay and trans citizens. You preach transparency but hide your lies in the shadows. You preach free speech but want to hurt those who say things you don’t like. You even deny charity to the starving, suggest an entire ethnic community should be deported from their homeland, and deport sick kids seeking medical treatments.
Quote from Catch 22: “It was miraculous. It was almost no trick at all, he saw, to turn vice into virtue and slander into truth, impotence into abstinence, arrogance into humility, plunder into philanthropy, thievery into honor, blasphemy into wisdom, brutality into patriotism, and sadism into justice. Anybody could do it; it required no brains at all. It merely required no character.”
Grow a spine, get some character, develop a soul of compassion. Enough of the hate for people of different colors, countries, sexual affiliations, non-Christian religions, and political party membership. Time to man up and have some compassion for those not like you. Time to accommodate the weaker amongst versus only celebrating the strong.
Do you know how easy it is to become a conservative, sing the songs of conspiracy and lies, trash some trans, scream “woke,” “defund,” “blm,” “communist,” ‘democrap,” just to make lots of money for dunning those despised by the right? EZ peazy. Ask Ernest Dempsey, the Pakistani fake conservative for-the-money, Honey, now easy it was. You guys fork over your hard-earned do-ray-me expecting this rhetoric to profit you somehow. All this does is assuage your frustrations. It does not end your frustrations. It does not fix your frustrations. It changes absolutely nothing about your life. Just a little pat on the back, you click a few pennies to the cause, and everything remains as it is. Because for change to happen, you must change something. Baying at the moon changes nothing. They change absolutely nothing with their words of hate. Its just elephant talk.
Larry, As is obvious from the comments, most of us realize you are a fool. While it is true Matthew Dowd was fired from his commentary position, what he said, while insensitive, is 100% correct. As I previously said, I do not agree with his killing, however Kirk’s speeches and writings were very inflammatory, and yes, they got him killed (of course some degree of mental instability in the shooter and far too many guns out there played a part-but then Kirk welcomed the far too many guns part). You are too dumb to realize this of course…